FURTHER RESUMED 5TH SESSION OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL CONFERENCE ON AN INTERNATIONAL LEGALLY BINDING INSTRUMENT UNDER THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA ON THE CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF MARINE BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY OF AREAS BEYOND NATIONAL JURISDICTION
19 June 2023
Statement by H.E. The Hon Mitch Fifield, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Australian Mission to the United Nations
Thank you, Madame President.
Australia aligns itself with the statement delivered by Fiji on behalf of the members of the Pacific Islands Forum, and wishes to deliver the following additional remarks in our national capacity.
Australia is deeply committed to sustainable ocean management to ensure our ocean is clean, healthy and productive.
We are an island continent, with the world’s third largest maritime jurisdiction.
We are also part of the Pacific family, which relies upon the ocean for livelihoods and food security.
Australia is proud to have joined with other nations to achieve this ambitious oceans treaty.
We extend our deepest appreciation to the President of the Conference, Ambassador Rena Lee, and her team, all facilitators, the Secretariat, our fellow negotiators and civil society observers.
We thank you all for your efforts in stewarding us through this process.
As an implementing agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the BBNJ treaty is a significant contribution to the maritime legal order.
UNCLOS sets out the comprehensive legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out.
This BBNJ treaty will expand on the marine environmental protections under UNCLOS to address the global challenges we face today.
It will work alongside and complement existing instruments, including Part XI of UNCLOS on the Area, the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI, the Convention on Biological Diversity and others.
Today is a remarkable milestone not only for the oceans and the law of the sea, but also for the entire multilateral system.
We are especially pleased that the international community came together today to adopt this historic agreement by consensus.
This demonstrates our shared commitment to the conservation and sustainable use of our oceans, and reaffirms that the United Nations remains the pre-eminent, effective and inclusive forum to address complex, pressing global challenges.
Together, we have secured a treaty that will deliver real conservation benefits and set strong environmental protection standards for areas beyond national jurisdiction.
This treaty will enhance international cooperation towards a Nature Positive World.
The establishment of marine protected areas on the high seas will give us a huge boost towards meeting our global biodiversity goal of protecting 30 per cent of our earth’s oceans by 2030.
Our work has just begun.
Australia encourages all nations to work towards signature and ratification of the high seas biodiversity treaty at the earliest opportunity, enabling us to focus on full and effective implementation.
With our oceans facing unprecedented threats, there is no time to waste.